Method and apparatus for packaging products which are to be stored separately but dispensed simultaneously

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for packaging two products which must be stored separately but mixed when dispensed, said dispenser comprising an outer container and an inner container within said outer container, said inner container being provided with closure means which opens in response to a difference between the pressure in said outer container and that in said inner container, and means for creating such a pressure difference.

e States Patent orane et a1.

Jan. 18, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTS WHICH ARETO BE STORED SEPARATELY BUT DKSPENSED SIMULTANEOUSLY Inventors: BrunoMorane, Paris; Charles Paoletti,

Aulnay Sous 8015; Louis Merrien, Fontenay Sous Bois; Manlio Maurelli,Vaujours; Robert Sathicq, Villepinte, all of France Assignee: LOreal,Paris, France Filed: July 25, 1969 Appl. N0.: 844,841

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 1, 1968 France ..161436 Dec.5, 1968 France ..176871 U.S.Cl ..l41/3, l41/329,222/130 Int. Cl. ..B65bl/04, B65b 3/04 FieldoiSearch ..141/3, 17, 19, 20,329,330;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,293 3/1892 Durand..169/32 1,302,679 5/1919 Lauterbach 4. ..169/32 1,918,191 7/1933239/303 X Paulus et a1 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr.Attorneyl-lolcombe, Wetherill & Brisebois [57] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 15Drawing Figures PATENTED M18872 SHEET 2 [1F 7 PATENTEU JAN 1 8 m2 SHEET3 0F 7 PATENTEU JAN] 8 I972 SHEET H 0F 7 PAnmmJma-m SHEEI 8 BF 7PATENTED M' Z 3.635.261 SHEET 7 [IF 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINGPRODUCTS WHICH ARE TO BE STORED SEPARATELY BUT DISPENSED SIMULTANEOUSLYIn packaging cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals, or products used formaintenance purposes, it is often necessary to store two productssimultaneously when one of these products reacts with the other whenthey are brought into contact. It is obvious that such contact must beavoided during storage in order to prevent the premature occurrence ofthe reaction which must take place at the moment of use. The twoproducts are consequently often packaged in separate containers, butthis requires the user to handle two containers at once when theproducts therein are being dispensed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of packagingand dispensing under pressure at least two products which are to be usedsimultaneously, but which must be stored separately, and a container foruse in carrying out that method.

The invention is essentially characterized by the fact that at least oneof the products to be dispensed is enclosed in an outer jacket providedwith at least one closure valve. Inside this jacket is at least onecontainer holding at least one other product to be dispensessimultaneously with the first. The containers are, during storage,subjected to the same internal pressure as the outer jacket. At themoment of use a high enough pressure is created within the container orcontainers to rupture it, and project its contents into the remainingspace within the jacket. The products brought into contact in thismanner are mixed by shaking the jacket and the mixture is dispensedthrough the valve in response to the internal pressure prevailing in thejacket.

In a first embodiment of the invention the outer jacket and thecontainer or containers are initially filled at atmospheric pressure,and the higher pressure required to rupture the container or containersis produced by means of a cartridge of pressurizing fluid which isinjected into one of the containers through a connecting valve. Thecartridge of pressurizing fluid may be independent of the jacket and thecontainers and may be put into cooperation by the user just before themixture is to be used.

In an alternative embodiment the cartridge of pressurizing fluid mayalso be enclosed inside the jacket and it is then placed in operation byconnecting it to the container or containers by means of a perforatingdevice.

In the first embodiment, the jacket which contains the complete mixtureis pressurized just before use by the same I pressurizing fluid whichruptured the container or containers.

In a second embodiment of the invention, at least one of the products tobe dispensed is inserted in an outer jacket which is closed by a valve.A container having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of saidjacket is then placed within the jacket. This container holds one of theproducts to be dispensed and is closed at its top by means of aremovable plug or a rupturable diaphragm. Its bottom is in the form of amovable piston which is slidable within the container. At the moment ofuse sufficient pressure is exerted on the lower surface of the movablepiston to cause upward displacement of the piston and thereby open theupper part of the container and project its contents into the jacket.This force also drives the container toward the top of the outerjacket-"once the piston has reached its upper position. Thev mixture isfinally dispensed through the valve of the jacket as a consequence ofthe pressure applied thereto by the container when said container hasbeen forced into its upper position by the pressure acting against thelower surface of the piston.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the outer jacket and thecontainer or containers are each filled, not only with the productswhich are to be simultaneously distributed, but also with thepressurizing fluid. This is done at a temperature below, or at mostequal to that at which the pressurizing fluid has a vapor pressure equalto atmospheric pressure. The container or containers is placed in thejacket, and the jacket closed, at the same temperature. The container orcontainers is ruptured by the partial release of the pressure in thejacket, which causes the pressure inside the container or containers tobecome higher than that in the jacket outside the containers. Theresulting mixture is dispensed, after shaking the jacket, in response tothe pressure generated by the pressure fluid initially enclosed withinthe container or containers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, as a new article ofmanufacture, a dispenser adapted to dispense simultaneously underpressure at least two products which must be stored separately,essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises an outer jacketprovided with a valved closure and at least one container inside thisjacket, said container comprising a weakened zone, and possibly beingconnected to a valve opening outside the jacket, or adjacent to a spacecontaining a pressurized fluid. Said space may be placed incommunication with the container or containers by means of a perforatingdevice.

In the first embodiment of the invention the container or containers areconnected to at least one valve opening outside the container andadapted to be placed in communication with the cartridge of pressurizingfluid, or adjacent at least one zone adapted to be perforated by atleast one perforating device so as to connect the container to the spacecontaining the pressurized fluid which is located inside the outerjacket of the dispenser according to the invention.

In the first case the device is operated by discharging at least onecartridge of pressurizing fluid through the valve, into the container orcontainers. In the second case the wall separating the container orcontainers from the space containing the pressurizing fluid isperforated. The release of the mixture from the device according to theinvention may take place through a valve other than the one which hascaused the rupture of the container or containers, when there is such avalve, or through the same valve.

In the second embodiment of the invention the device is essentiallycharacterized by the fact that it comprises an outer jacket closed by avalve and a container which is slidable inside this jacket. The innercontainer comprises near its upper end a removable plug or a rupturablediaphragm, and at its lower end a movable piston which acts as itsbottom and is slidable within the container more freely than thecontainer is slidable within the jacket. The assembly of the containerand the piston is positioned above a chamber containing a compressed gaswhich may or may not be liquefied. This chamber may be opened by a pinor the like to permit the compressed gas to come into contact with themovable piston.

In the device which has just been described the above-mentionedcontainer may enclose a second container which may be slidable therein.The second container may have a movable piston which acts as its bottomand a weakened zone at its top and may act as the movable bottom of thefirst container. In this case the jacket initially contains a firstproduct, the first container contains a second product, and the secondcontainer contains a third product.

It is clear that the present invention also includes a device in whichthe outer jacket encloses a container within which a plurality ofslidable containers are mounted. The last container, that is to say theone which is inside all the others, has as its bottom a movable pistonof the device.

In the case of the second embodiment of the invention, when the userperforates the chamber containing the compressed gas with a pin, thepiston moves upwardly under the pressure exerted by the compressed gasand compresses the product within the container. This forces the plugout of its seat or ruptures the diaphragm so as to permit the productwithin the container to move into the outer jacket, which initiallycontains another product. The two products are thus mixed together and,when the piston arrives at its upper position within its container, thecompressed gas drives this container toward the top of the jacket, thuscausing the container to slide in the jacket, and pressurizing themixture of fluids in the outer jacket. The user may then, by pressingthe valve on the jacket; dispense the desired mixture.

It is obvious that, in order for the operation to proceed as abovedescribed, it is absolutely necessary that the frictional resistance tothe sliding of the piston in the container, added to the force necessaryto eject the plug or rupture the diaphragm must be less than thefrictional resistance to sliding of the container in the outer jacket.In like manner this latter force must be less than the force produced bythe action of the compressed gas on the movable piston. When there areseveral inner containers, analogous relationships with respect to thefrictional resistance and dimensions of the components must berespected. In all cases the exact calculation of the frictionalconditions and dimensions of the various components manner can be madein a conventional by the technician who designs the particularcontainer, in which several inequalities must be respected in order toinsure satisfactory operation of the device. These calculations will notbe discussed in detail, since they are within the scope of a man skilledin the art. For the gaseous propellants currently used and for a jacketholding a single container provided with a thin wall, an essentialcondition for good operation is that the volume of air above the productin the outer jacket must be at least 20 percent greater than the volumeof the product within the inner container.

The movable plugs in the slidable containers may be made of a flexiblematerial. The openings in which they are placed may have dimensionsslightly greater than those of the support for the valve on the jacket.The shape of the upper part of the movable piston may be complementaryto the shape of the valve of the jacket in order to leave a minimum deadspace at the end of the path of travel of the movable piston. The shapeof the lower part of the movable piston may be complementary to that ofthe upper wall of the chamber containing the compressed gaseouspropellant. In general the free volume within the outer jacket above theproduct which it contains is occupied by air under atmospheric pressure,but some degree of vacuum may also be used.

In the third embodiment of the invention the containers are neitherconnected to a valve or adjacent to any perforatable wall, and thedevice according to the invention comprises only one valve, to wit, theone through which the desired mixture is dispensed. In this case, sothat the user may easily determine the time at which the inner containeror containers is opened, the valve is provided with an optical oracoustic attachment which indicates when the pressure in the outerjacket has been sufficiently reduced to cause rupture of the innercontainer or containers.

In all of the embodiments of the invention the containers may be madeeither of a rigid material provided with a weakened frangible zone, orof a flexible material having for example, a weakened seam, or even asemirigid material closed by a pressure seal which can resist only asmall internal pressure, or by a force fitted stopper. In particular,the containers may be made of a plastic material.

The gaseous propellant may consist of a mixture of butane and propane,or a mixture of freon 11 and freon 12, or of any other pressurizinggases conventionally used at a relative pressure preferably less than 6kg./cm.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, severalembodiments thereof will now be described, purely by way ofillustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a sectional view through a dispenser according to theinvention which comprises a rigid container having a circular frangiblezone near its lower end. This device is adapted to be put into use bymeans of an external cartridge of pressurizing fluid and the containeris connected at its upper end to the dispensing valve.

FIG. 2 shows, in axial section, a dispenser according to the inventioncomprising a dispensing valve at its lower end, a rigid containerprovided with a circular frangible line, and being operated by means ofa cartridge of pressure fluid outside the dispenser.

FIG. 3 shows, in axial section, a dispenser according to the inventionenclosing a container of flexible plastic material provided with a weakseam at its bottom, and comprising a cartridge of pressure fluidattached thereto through which the desired mixture is dispensed.

FIG. 4 shows, in axial section, a dispenser according to the inventioncomprising a dispensing valve and a rigid container having a circularfrangible area near its upper end and connected at its lower end to acartridge of pressurizing fluid by a valve. The device is designed tooperate with the dispensing valve down.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 represent an embodiment of the invention in which thedispenser comprises an inner container in the form of a metallic tubeclosed by a folded over joint. This dispenser comprises near its bottoma volume of pressurizing fluid which may be placed in communication withthe container by means of a perforating pin operated from outside.

FIG. 8 shows, in partial axial section, a dispenser according to theinvention of the same general type shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, but inwhich the perforating pin is made in a different manner.

FIG. 9 shows in axial section a dispenser according to the invention inwhich the container is not connected to any valve and is not contactedby any perforating pin, but is internally subjected to the same pressureas the external jacket.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show indicators which may be used in combination withthe device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 shows in section a device according to the invention whichencloses a sliding container, the assembly being shown in storageposition.

FIG. 13 shows the device illustrated in. FIG. 1 when the user has justperforated the chamber containing the compressed gas in order to mix thetwo fluids together.

FIG. 14 shows the device illustrated in FIG. 2 when the compressed gashas slid the container inside the jacket.

FIG. 15 shows in storage position a device according to the invention inwhich the outer jacket encloses two containers, one within the other.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that referencenumeral 1 designates the outer jacket of the dispenser according to theinvention. This outer jacket is generally cylindrical in form and ismade of any suitable material as is in general the case withconventional aerosol dispensers. It is closed at its top by a valve 2,the bottom of which is connected to a container 3. The container is atube of rigid polyethylene material about 0.5 mm. thick. This tube hasnear its lower end a thinner zone 4, the thickness of which is about 0.2mm. The outer jacket 1 contains a liquid 5 which occupies only part ofits volume. The container 3 is filled with a liquid 6. Duringmanufacture, neither the container 3 nor the jacket 1 is pressurized.

A cartridge of pressurizing fluid 8 is used when the liquids are to bemixed. This fluid may be, for example, a gas under pressure such ascompressed air, nitrogen or freon. This cartridge 7 is closed by a valve9 provided with a mouthpiece 10. The user inserts the mouthpiece 10 inthe seat in the top of the valve 2 and exerts sufficient pressure on thecartridge 7 to open the valve 9. The fluid pressurizer then applies itspressure to the fluid 6 in the container 3, which ruptures the weakenedzone 4 and consequently causes the fluid 6 to flow into the fluid 5.When the cartridge 7 reaches the same pressure as the fluid contained inthe device, the user ceases to press on the cartridge 7 and disconnectsit. The cartridge is replaced by a pushbutton dispenser and the deviceis shaken to insure a homogenous mixture of the fluids 5 and 6. It thensuffices for the user to press the pushbutton which actuates the valve2, the reservoir being so positioned that the valve is at its upper end,so that under pressure from the fluid 8 inside the jacket 1, the mixtureof fluids 5 and 6 is dispensed, with the container 3 acting as aplunging tube.

In the embodiment shown on FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 indicates theouter jacket of the dispenser according to the invention, which isprovided with a valve 2, to which the container 3 is attached. Thiscontainer 3 and its weakened zone 4a are made in the same way as in theembodiment of FIG. 1. The

container holds a liquid 6 and the jacket holds a liquid 5, and both arefilled at atmospheric pressure.

When the user wishes to employ such a dispenser, he uses a cartridge 7of pressurizing fluid 8 provided with a valve 9 having a tip 116 anddischarges the pressurizing fluid 8 into the container 3 through thevalves 9 and 2, as has been hereinbefore indicated. This pressure, whichmay be about 5 kgJcm. for example, ruptures the tube constituting thecontainer 3 along its weakened zone 40 and the liquid 6 mixes with theliquid 5. The dispenser is then shaken to insure homogenization of themixture, and the cartridge 7 is removed and replaced by a dispensingvalve actuated by a pushbutton. The mixture is dispensed by pressing onthe pushbutton, the valve 2 being positioned at the lower end of thedispenser according to the invention. The mixture is ejected as beforeby reason of the pressure produced inside the jacket by the pressurizingfluid 8 which, after rupturing the container 3, is released into thejacket 1.

In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 indicates theouter jacket of the dispenser according to the invention, equipped at.its upper end with a valve 2 to which a container 3 inside the jacket 1is connected. The container 3 is a bag of flexible plastic materialwhich is closed at its lower end by a heat seal 4b. The container 3 isfilled with a liquid 6, whereas the jacket 1 contains a liquid 5, bothunder atmospheric pressure. An intermediate member 11 at the top of thejacket i covers the upper conical part of the jacket 1 but is providedwith a central opening affording free access to the valve 2. The wall ofthis opening, is provided with threads 12 having a large pitch, whichthreads cooperate with a rib 13 at the lower end of a cartridge 7containing a pressurizing fluid 8 under a pressure of 5 kg./cm. Thecartridge 7 carries at the center of its bottom 1141, a valve 15provided with a pin 16. The top of the cartridge carries a valve 17which cooperates with a pushbutton 118 the actuation of which dispensesthe mixture. Inside the valve 117 is a tube 19 which extends down to thebottom 114i.

When this dispenser is to be used, the cartridge 7 is rotated. As aconsequence of the cooperation between the rib 13 and the helicalthreads 12 the bottom M is thus moved toward the valve 2. The pin 16 ofthe valve then enters the seat provided therefore in the valve 2, thusbringing the inside of the cartridge 7 into communication with that ofthe container 3. The pressure exerted by the pressurizing fluid 8 thenbreaks the seal db of the container 3, which causes the liquid 6 to flowinto the liquid 5. The pressurizing fluid 8 follows it and ensures thepressurization of the entire volume within the jacket. Pressure on thepushbutton 18 then produces a partial vacuum in the cartridge 7, whichdraws the mixture of the liquids 5 and 6 up into the cartridge fordistribution through the tube 19 and valve 17.

In the embodiment which has just been described, the pushbutton 18 ispositioned for use at the top of the dispenser and the mixture isdispensed without having to remove the cartridge 7 of pressurizingfluid.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 still indicates theouter envelope of the dispenser according to the invention which carriesat its upper end a valve 2 which may be actuated by a dispensingpushbutton 26.

The jacket l is provided at the center of its bottom 2i with aninternally threaded sleeve connecting the inside of this jacket to theouter air. A container 3 having at one end a threaded neck 3a isfastened inside the jacket by screwing this neck all the way into thesleeve 22 so as to hermetically seal the jacket 1. The dispensercomprises a valve 23 in the neck 3a. The container 3 comprises aweakened zone 4 near the end remote from said valve. The container 3 andzone 4 are of the same material and dimensions as in the embodiment ofFIG. ll. The container 3 contains a liquid 6 and the jacket a liquid 5.Neither is filled under pressure.

When the embodiment of H6. 4 is to be used, the pin 110 of the valve 9of the cartridge 7 is introduced into the valve 23. The cartridge 7contains a pressurizing fluid 3 under a pressure of about 5 kg./cm. Whena force is exerted sufficient to enable the pin to open the valves 9 and23, the pressure of the fluid 8 ruptures the container 3 and drives thefluid 6 out of the container. When the cartridge 7 and the inside of thejacket ll attain the same pressure, the cartridge 7 is removed and thedispenser, which has been pressurized by the fluid 8, is shaken. Afterhomogenization in this manner, pressure on the valve 2 through itspushbutton 20 which are positioned at the bottom of the jacket,dispenses the mixture of liquids 5 and 6.

In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the need for aseparate cartridge of pressurizing fluid is eliminated. In thesefigures, reference numeral ll indicates the outer jacket of thedispenser according to the invention provided at its upper end with adispensing valve actuated by a pushbutton 24. The jacket 11 is closed atits lower end by a double bottom, the outer wall of which is indicatedby reference numeral 25, and its inner wall by 26. The walls 25 and 26define a cartridge which will contain a pressurizing fluid 8. The wall25 separates this space from the outside and carries a central sleeve 27made in two parts. One of these, outside the jacket 1, is provided withan internally threaded seat 28, while the other, indicated by referencenumeral 29 comprises a central cylindrical recess. The sleeve 27 isfastened to the bottom 25. The wall 26 separates the space which willhold the fluid 8 from the remainder of the space inside the jacket ll.This wall carries, inside the space which is to receive the fluid 8, aninternally threaded sleeve 30. The threaded recess in this sleeve isclosed at its lower end, that is to say, adjacent the space containingthe fluid 6 by a plug 31 molded at the time the sleeve 30 ismanufactured. Inside the jacket 11 is a container 3 in the form of analuminum tube, closed at one end by an externally threaded neck 32 and asealing web 33, and closed at the other end by a fold in the aluminum,indicated by reference numeral 34. The container 3 holds a liquid 6 andis fastened to the inside of the jacket by screwing its threaded neck 32into the sleeve 36. The sleeve 27 is adapted to receive a perforatingdevice identified by reference numeral 35. The device 35 comprises apushbutton 36, threads 37 adapted to cooperate with the threads in theseat 23 of sleeve 27 and a punch 38 having a diameter substantiallyequal to that of the cylindrical recess in the part 29 of the sleeve 27.The punch 38 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 39. Thewalls 25 and 26 are attached to the lateral wall of the jacket 1 by adouble seal 40.

When manufacturing such a dispenser, the tube which forms the container3 is first filled from the bottom with the liquid 6 and this tube ispositioned in the jacket l by screwing its neck 32 into the sleeve 30.This jacket is then filled with the liquid 5 and closed at its upper endby means of the dispensing valve provided with the pushbutton 2d. Theperforating device is then mounted in the sleeve 27, engaging the punch38 in the cylindrical recess of the part 29 of the sleeve 27. Thisposition is shown in FIG. 5.

The pressurizing fluid 8 is then introduced under pressure into thespace between the walls 25 and 26. This fluid passes through thethreaded seal 28 and the groove 39 in the punch 38. When the doublebottom is filled with fluid 8, the threaded part 37 is inserted into theseat 23 by pressing on the button 36. This is made possible by the factthat the sleeve 27 and the threaded part 37 are made of a relativelyelastic plastic material. At this moment, the space between the walls 25and 26 is closed.

When the dispenser is to be used, the button 36 is turned to screw theperforating device 35 in and thus cause axial displacement of the punch38 in the direction of the plug 31 and the web 33. This position isshown on FIG. 6. At the end of the screwing, the punch has perforatedthe members 31 and 33, thus connecting through the groove 33 in thepunch, the space containing the pressurizing fluid 6 and the inside ofthe container 3. When subjected to this pressure the fold 34 unrolls,the upper end of the tube opens, and the liquid 6 therein is projectedinto the liquid 5. The dispenser is then shaken to insure homogenizationof the mixture and it sufiices to turn the dispenser so that thepushbutton is downward and press thereon. The mixture is then dispensedin response to the pressure of the fluid 8 inside the jacket.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. -7. Thisfigure shows the jacket 1 of the dispenser provided at its upper endwith a valve and associated pushbutton 24. The jacket 1 contains aliquid 5 and encloses a container 3 holding the liquid 6. The container3 is a tube of the type described in connection with the embodiment ofFIGS. 5-7. It is also screwed by its neck into a sleeve 30, and isprovided with a closure web 33. The sleeve 30 is blocked by a plug 31.The perforating device comprises a punch 38, which slides snugly in asleeve 41, without threads, the space containing the pressurizing fluidis enclosed by a cylinder having the sleeve 30 at its upper end and thesleeve 41 at its lower end. The perforating device 35 slides in thesleeve 41. The wall 26 defining this space is attached at its lower sideto the bottom 42 of the dispenser by a seal 43 and the bottom 42 issimilarly sealed to the lateral wall of the jacket 1 at 44. Thisarrangement makes it possible to avoid the double seal 40 shown on FIGS.5-7.

This embodiment of the invention is filled and operated in the same wayas the one illustrated in FIGS. 5-7.

FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of the device according to theinvention. In this figure reference numeral 1 indicates the cylindricalouter jacket carrying at its upper end a dispensing valve 2. The jacket1 encloses a container 3 which is attached to the bottom of the jacketin any suitable manner, for example by a blind sleeve 45. The container3 is a tube of aluminum foil, the threaded neck of which is screwed intothe sleeve 45, and the other end of which is closed by a fold 34. Thejacket contains a liquid 5 and the tube 3 contains a fluid 6. During itsmanufacture, the tube 3 is filled with the fluid 6, and before closingthe fold in this tube, liquid freon 12 is inserted therein. It is clearthat the tube must be filled at a temperature below that at which freon12 becomes liquid, for example, -l5 C. At this same temperature the tube3 is placed in the jacket 1, and the jacket partially filled with thefluid 5 and a certain amount of liquid freon 12 is then introduced intothe jacket. The jacket 1 is then closed by mounting the valve 2 thereonand the dispenser is permitted to return to room temperature. Thepressures inside and outside the tube 3 are the same, since they areboth equal to the vapor pressure of freon 12 at the temperature of thedispenser as a whole.

When this device is to be used, the valve 2 is opened b pressing onpushbutton 2, which depressurizes the jacket 1, by permitting the freonwhich it contains to escape. The pressure surrounding the tube 3 is thusdiminished while the pressure therein remains the same. This causes thefold which closes one end of the tube to unroll, opening the tube sothat its contents are propelled by the freon 12 into the jacket 1. Assoon as the user hears the tube explode, he releases the pressure on thevalve 2, shakes the dispenser, turns it over to position the valve 2 atthe bottom thereof, and again presses on the pushbutton to open thevalve 2, thus dispensing a mixture of the fluids 5 and 6. These fluidsare propelled by the pressure inside the jacket 1 produced by the freonwhich was initially contained in the tube 3 and any of the freonoriginally contained by the jacket 1 which did not escape when the valvewas first pressed.

It is obvious that, in this last embodiment, the container 3 need notnecessarily be fastened to the inside of the jacket 1. It is also clearthat, if the noise made when the tube opens up is not loud enough toattract the attention of the user, acoustical or optical signaling meansmay be added to the device according to the invention to indicate to theuser that the container 3 has been ruptured. Such arrangements are shownon FIGS. 9, l0 and 11.

In FIG. 9 the outlet is provided with a flexible tube 46. This tubestays curved so long as freon is escaping through the outlet, butstraightens up into the position shown in broken lines when a liquidmixture passes through the outlet. The straightening of the tube 46indicates to the user that the container 3 has ruptured so that a moreor less emulsified liquid product will thereafter be propelled from thedispenser.

In FIG. 10 the outlet is provided with a removable cylindrical device 47comprising a piston 48 pierced by holes 49, the piston rod beingprovided with a longitudinal groove 50. The cylinder 47 is seated in thedispensing nozzle and the piston 48 is a tight sliding fit inside it.The lower part of the piston rod is colored red, for example. When theuser opens the valve 2 of the device to release the gas in the jacket 1,the gas escapes through the holes 49 in the piston 48 and through thegroove 50 in the piston rod without difficulty and without moving thepiston. On the contrary, when the tube 3 has ruptured, a more or lessemulsified liquid product strikes the piston 48 and its viscosity is toogreat to permit it to pass through the holes 49, so that it pushes thepiston to the outer end of its path of travel. The piston rod 50 comesall the way out of the device 47, so that the user can see the redthereon, which indicates that the first phase of the operation is over.The user then removes the device 47 and replaces it with a pushbuttonwhich is used for nonnal dispensing as hereinbefore described.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, a nozzle 51 comprising a channel portion52 is attached to the outlet of the valve 2. This channel portion iscovered by a vibrating blade 53 attached to the end of the channelremote from the valve 2. In use, when the gas is being released from thejacket, the blade 53 produces a sound caused by the passage of gas. Onthe contrary, after rupture of the tube 3, a more or less emulsifiedmixture reaches the channel 52, the sound is no longer produced. Thedispenser is then shaken to assure homogenization of the mixture, andwhen it is turned over, and the valve 2 opened, the mixture to bedispensed will escape through the channel 52, by pushing away the blade53.

FIGS. 12-14 show yet another embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment reference numeral 1 indicates the outer jacket of the deviceaccording to the invention and reference numeral 54 indicates thedispensing valve which is pressed down to deliver the desired mixture.The jacket 1 contains at its lower end a chamber 55 and a needle 56. Thechamber 55 contains butane at a pressure of 1.7 kg./cm. at 20 C. Theneedle has a screw-threaded segment by means of which it may be actuallymoved into contact with the upper wall of the chamber 55. Above thechamber 55 is a container 57 having an outer diameter equal to the innerdiameter of the jacket 1. The container 57 may slide inside thejacket 1. It carries at its top a conical portion and is closed by aflexible stopper 58. The bottom of the container 57 consists of amovable piston 59 which is slidable within the container 57 and whichbears against the conical part of the container 57 when in its upperposition. The jacket 1 contains 40 cm. of a product 59a and thecontainer 57 contains 40 cm. of a product 60. These two products have adensity of about I.

In order to provide the inequalities necessary for proper mechanicaloperation the diameter of the envelope 1 is 5.2 cm. and its totalheights is 15 cm. The diameter of the plug 58 is 2.6 cm. The volume ofair initially contained between piston 59 in its lower position and theupper wall 55 is negligible because of their complementary shapes. Thecontainer 57 is completely filled with 40 cm. of the product which itcontains. The frictional resistance of the container 57 in the jacket 1is l0 kg; that of the piston 59 and the container 57 is 5 kg., and theforce required to eject the plug 58 is 2 kg.

When the user desires to employ the device according to the invention hescrews in the pin 56 so as to perforate the upper wall of the chamber55. The pressure of the butane is exerted on the lower surface of thepiston 59 which transmits this pressure to the fluid 60 which forces outthe plug 58. The piston 59 slides inside the container 57 until itreaches its upper position, which position is shown in FIG. 2. At thismoment the fluid 60 and 59a are mixed inside the jacket 1 and outsidethe container 57. The pressure of the butane forces the assemblycomprising the container 57 and piston 59 in its upper position upwardlywithin the outer jacket until the mixture 59a-60 is compressed to apressure equal to that developed by the pressurizing gas in the jacket55 and approximating the frictional resistance. It then suffices for theuser to press on the button which controls the valve 57 in order todispense the mixture 590-60 under the pressure generated by thepressurizing gas.

FIG. represents a variation of the embodiment of the device shown inFIGS. 12-14.

It will be seen that, in this case, the jacket 1 has the generalcharacteristics shown on FIGS. 12-14. It comprises a valve 54, a chamber55 at its lower part, and a pin 56 adjacent said chamber. The jacket 1holds a container 61, analogous to the container 57, and closed by aplug 62. Inside the container 61 is a second container 63 closed by aplug 64 at its top. The container 63 has a shape analogous to that ofthe container 61 and is slidable within the container 61. The plug 64has a diameter less than the diameter of the plug 62. The container 63is closed at its lower end by a movable piston 65 which is slidabletherein. The piston 65 comprises a conical portion adapted to bear onthe conical zone at the top of the container 63. The container 63 holdsa fluid 66, the container 61 holds a fluid 67, and the outer jacket mayhold a fluid 68. The container 63 and 61 are completelylilled by thefluids 66 and 67, while a dead space filled with air is positionedwithin the jacket 1 above the fluid 68. In such a device, when the useractuates the pin 56, the pressurizing gas in the chamber 55 is broughtinto contact with the lower surface of the piston 65 and causescompression of the fluid 66, thus forcing out the plug 64. This resultsin compression of the fluid 67, which forces out the plug 62, thuscausing ejection of the fluids 66-67 into the jacket 11 and theresulting mixture of the fluid 66, 67 and 68. All of these operationstake place while the piston 65 is being moved to its upper positionwithin the container 63 thereby driving the container 63 into its upperposition within the container 61. Once the mixture has been fonned inthis manner, the assembly comprising the piston 65 and the containers 63and 61 moves toward the upper part of the jacket 1 and places themixture 66, 67 and 68 under pressure. The user may then dispense thismixture by pressing on the pushbutton of the valve 54.

Several examples of products which may be packaged in the dispenseraccording to the invention will now be given. EXAMPLE 1: RegenerativeHair Lotion Any of the dispensers shown in FIGS. 1-9 may be used.

The following products are placed in the inner container:

Methoxymethyl dicyandiamide 0.4 g. Triethanolaminc-para-hydroxy-benzoate0.02 3. Water, q.s.p. cm

20 cm. of an aqueous, lactic acid solution having a pH of 2 is placed inthe outer jacket.

The dispenser is operated as hereinbefore described to mix the twoliquids and applied to very degraded bleached hair before setting it.After drying the hair appears clean and shiny, has excellent body, andthe wave imparted by the set lasts very well.

EXAMPLE 2: Regenerative Hair Lotion Any one of the dispensers shown inFIGS. 1-9 may be used.

0.4 g. of hydroxymethyldicyandiamide is placed in the inner container.

The following solution is placed in the outer jacket:

trimethyl-cetyl ammonium bromide 0.02 g. citric acid q.s.p. P waterq.s.p. 20 cm.

The dispenser is operated as hereinbefore described to mix the twoliquids and apply them to bleached very degraded hair, before settingthe hair. After dryi s. the hair has a clean, shiny appearance, hasexcellent body, and the set" lasts longer.

EXAMPLE 3: Bleaching Mixture Any of the dispensers shown in FIGS. 1-9may he used. The following products are placed in the inner container:

potassium persulfate 27 g. biammonium phosphate 5 g. sodium carbonate 6g. disodium salt of ethylene-diaminetctraacetic acid I g. sodiumlaurylsulfate 7.5 g. precipitated silica 3.5 g.

I00 cc. of hydrogen peroxide at 20 volumes is placed in the outerjacket.

The dispenser is operated as previously described to mix the twoproducts and apply the mixture to the hair. The hair becomes four orfive shades lighter.

EXAMPLE 4: Oxidation Dye for the Hair Any one of the dispensers shown inFIGS. 1-9 may be used:

40 cc. of the following mixture is placed in the inner container:

nonylphenol condensed with 4 moles of 40 cc. of hydrogen peroxide at 20volumes is placed in the outer jacket.

The dispenser is operated as hereinbefore described to mix the twoliquids which are then applied to percent white hair. A chestnut shaderesults.

EXAMPLE 5: Product for Coloring the Skin Any of the dispensers shown inFIGS. 1-9 may be used. The following mixture is placed in the innercontainer:

3-paranitrophenyl-2,5-diphcnyl tetrazolium chloride 0.78 5. ethanol,q.s.p. 50 water. q.s.p. I00

The following mixture is placed in the outer jacket:

l,2,4-trihydroxy naphthalene 0.34 g. ethanol q.s.p. 50 citric acid andsodium carbonate q.s.p. pH

The dispenser is operated as hereinbefore described to mix the twoproducts. The mixture dispensed is applied to the skin and produces anatural golden tan.

EXAMPLE 6: Permanent for the Hair The device according to the inventionmakes it possible to use in a permanent waving liquid certain reducingagents which impart great softness to the hair facilitate its combing,and permit it to be beautifully waved without deterioration, but whichhave the disadvantage that they hydrolyze in an aqueous solution.

Any one of the dispensers shown in FIGS. 1-9 may be used.

The following mixture is placed in the inner container:

glycerol thioglycolate I51 g. glycerine l g.

The following mixture is placed in the outer jacket:

triethanolamine '4 cm. water 56 cm.

The dispenser is operated as previously described to mix the twoliquids. The solution is applied to the hair on curlers in aconventional permanent waving process. After treatment the hair is verysoft and has a beautiful wave. EXAMPLE 7: Fixative for Permanent WaveAny of the dispensers according to the invention may also be used as apackage for products to be stored in the dry state and which polymerizein solution. This is particularly true of certain methylol compoundswhich, when applied to the hair, reticulate and polymerize inside thefiber and considerably improve the condition of the hair. These productsare valuable as additives to fixatives for permanent waves. Thedispenser according to the invention makes it possible to avoidpremature polymerization.

2 g. of hydroxymethylurea are placed in the inner container.

The following mixture is placed in the outer jacket:

hydrogen peroxide at 30 volumes 3 cm. phosphoric acid qsp. pil -2.8water q.s.p. l5 cm.

The dispenser is operated as hereinbefore described to mix the twoproducts. The resulting mixture is applied to hair wound up on rollers,which hair has been subjected to the reducing step of a permanent waveand then rinsed. After minutes, the hair is removed from the rollers,rinsed and set. The condition of the hair is substantially improved.EXAMPLE 8: Depilatory The dispenser according to the invention makes itpossible to store certain enzymes which deteriorate rapidly in solution.These dispensers may be used to store proteolytic enzymes which, whenthey hydrolize, increase the effectiveness of the thiols in a depilatoryas reducing agents.

The inner container of the dispenser holds the enzyme and the outerjacket contains a conventional depilatory. EXAMPLE 9: PharmaceuticalProduct Obtained from a Lyophilized Powder it is well known that certainbiological products may be stabilized by lyophilization when thesemixtures are fragile, and thereby kept in powdered form until they areplaced in solution at the moment of use. This is particularly the casewith antiseptic solutions having an antibiotic base. A lyophilizedantibiotic powder can be placed in the inner container of the dispenseraccording to the invention and the aqueous phase in which it is to bedissolved in the outer jacket.

We claim:

1. A method of packaging two products which must be stored separatelybut mixed when dispensed, said method comprising the steps ofintroducing one of said products into an inner container, adapted torupture under pressure, introducing the other product at the samepressure as said first product into a jacket enclosing said innercontainer and provided with an external outlet, and associating withsaid jacket a cartridge holding propellant fluid under pressure andmeans for bringing said cartridge and inner container into communicationwith each other to create a fluid pressure differential between thecontents of said inner container and jacket sufficient to cause ruptureof said inner container and thereby admit the product held by said innercontainer, and said propellant, into said outer jacket.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which said cartridge is formed ofa separate chamber in said jacket.

1. A method of packaging two products which must be stored separatelybut mixed when dispensed, said method comprising the steps ofintroducing one of said products into an inner container, adapted torupture under pressure, introducing the other product at the samepressure as said first product into a jacket enclosing said innercontainer and provided with an external outlet, and associating withsaid jacket a cartridge holding propellant fluid under pressure andmeans for bringing said cartridge and inner container into communicationwith each other to create a fluid pressure differential between thecontents of said inner container and jacket sufficient to cause ruptureof said inner container and thereby admit the product held by said innercontainer, and said propellant, into said outer jacket.
 2. The method asclaimed in claim 1 in which said cartridge is formed of a separatechamber in said jacket.